• American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Clinical guideline on infant oral health care. Chicago (IL): American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry; 2004. 4 p. [42 references]

This is the current release of the guideline.

Recommendations

1. All primary health care professionals who serve mothers and infants should provide parent/caregiver education on the etiology and prevention of early childhood caries (ECC). Oral health counseling during pregnancy is especially important for the mother.
2. The infectious and transmissible nature of bacteria that cause early childhood caries and methods of oral health risk assessment (the Caries-risk Assessment Tool [CAT]), anticipatory guidance, and early intervention should be included in the curriculum of all medical, nursing, and allied health professional programs.
3. Every infant should receive an oral health risk assessment from his/her primary health care provider or qualified health care professional by 6 months of age. This initial visit should consist of the following:
   • Assessing the patient's risk of developing oral disease using CAT
   • Providing education on infant oral health
   • Evaluating and optimizing fluoride exposure
4. Parents or caregivers should establish a dental home for infants by 12 months of age. The following should be accomplished at that visit:
   • Recording thorough medical (infant) and dental (mother or primary caregiver and infant) histories
   • Completing a thorough oral examination
   • Assessing the infant's risk of developing dental disease using CAT and determining an appropriate prevention plan and interval for periodic reevaluation based upon that assessment
   • Providing anticipatory guidance regarding dental and oral development, fluoride status, nonnutritive sucking habits, teething, injury prevention, oral hygiene instruction, and the effects of diet on the dentition
   • Planning for comprehensive care in accordance with accepted guidelines and periodicity schedules for pediatric oral health ("Clinical guideline on periodicity," 2004)
   • Referring patients to the appropriate health professional if intervention is necessary
5. Health care professionals and all stakeholders in children's health should support the identification of a dental home for all infants at 12 months of age.

None provided

All oral health policies and clinical guidelines are based on 2 sources of evidence: (1) the scientific literature; and (2) experts in the field.

• American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Clinical guideline on infant oral health care. Chicago (IL): American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry; 2004. 4 p. [42 references]

Not applicable: The guideline was not adapted from another source.

2004

American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry - Professional Association

American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry

Clinical Affairs Committee
Infant Oral Health Subcommittee

Not stated

Not stated

This is the current release of the guideline.

None available

This NGC summary was completed by ECRI on February 25, 2005. The information was verified by the guideline developer on April 18, 2005.

This summary is based on the original guideline, which is subject to the guideline developer's copyright restrictions.